Can-opener



-J, R. SPENCER.

CAN OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, I917.

1,384,642. Patented July 12, 1921.

20 il-y 30 operation of the UNITED/STATES "PATENT OFFIQE.

JONATHAN R. SPENCER, O15 LONG'BEACII,

CALIFORNIA, AS$IGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK W. SMITH, OF 'LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CAN-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July '12, 1921.

Application filed. April 11, 1917. Serial No. 161,203.

To all to from it may 0021 m Be it known that I, JONATHAN R. SrENcER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Long Beach, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented cerothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in a can opener, and has for one of its objects, the provision of a device of this character,

L5 which may be readily and conveniently operated by rendering a forward and upward motion to the cutting blade.

Another object of this invention is to provide a blade so constructed that it will readout a can upon a curve.

A further object of this invention is to provide an extension formed upon the blade and adapted to bite into the can to provide a fulcrum, which will not slip rearwardly upon the cutting stroke of the blade.

A still further object of this invention is to provide oppositely disposed flanges adapted to hold down each edge of the cut in the can to prevent it from interfering with the blade and fulcrum.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a can opener of the above stated character, which shall be simple, durable and efiicient, and which may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

With these and other objects in view, as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understandlng of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawlng, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a can opener constructed in accordance with my invention, illustrating it applied to a fragmentarv P rt n of a e 'the cutting blade 5 'viding a fulcrum to the cutting Fig. '2 is a front elevation of the device applied to a fragmentary portion of a can,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the cutting blade, removed from the handle,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, illustratingthe cutting edges of the blade,

F 5 is a perspective view of the can opener removed from the can.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicatesas an entirety, a handle, which is constructed from a single length of materialbent upon itself intermediate its ends to provide arm portions, which converge inwardly to form parallel portions 3 between which is secured, a shank 4; of a cutting blade 5. The shank l is provided with apertures 6 for the purpose of receiving rivets or other suitable fastening elements as at 7 in Figs. 1, 2 and 5.

The shank 4c is reduced to form the cutting blade 5, which is curved and tapered to form a pointed end 8 to facilitate easy insertion of the blade through a can. The forward edge of the cutting blade 5 is beveled upon each face thereof as at 9 in Fig. l to provide a cutting edge. One face of the rear edge of is beveled as at 10 to cooperate with one of the beveled faces 9 in forming a convex face to the blade, which will aid in permitting the blade to out upon the curve as shown in Fig. 2. The blade is also curved laterally as in Fig. 2 for aiding in cutting the can upon the curve.

In forming the cutting blade 5 upon the shank 4:, an extension 11 is formed which is provided with a pointed edge 12, thus problade and which will bite into the can upon the working stroke of the cutting blade to prevent it from slipping rearwardly.

The free ends of the parallel portion 3 of the handle 1 are bent at right angles in opposite directions to provide oppositely disposed flanges 13, which are adapted to overlie and bear upon the can to prevent the edges of the can where cut from bending upwardly, thus preventing the edges of the cut of the can from interfering with the operation of the cutting blade and the fulcrum. 12.

In operation, the cutting blade 5 is pushed downwardly through the can and by swinging the handle 1 rearwardly uponthe fulcrum 12 to a position as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, a forwardly and upwardly cutting motion is rendered tothe blade 5, thus opening the can. After the cutting blade has made a complete stroke forwardly and upwardly, the handle is swung forwardly, permitting the fulcrum 12 to obtain a new-grip upon the can. The flanges 13' resting upon the edges of the cut of the can prevent said edges from bending upwardly and interfering with the operation of the blade and also cooperate with the fulcrum 12 in permitting the cutting blade to have a forwardly and upwardly movement. 7

The cutting blade 5 is curved in the man ner illustrated in the Figs. 1 and 8 and permits the cutting edge of the blade to move outwardly of the can when said cutting blade is moved forwardly and upwardly as shown in Fig. 1 in dotted lines. The cutting edge being disposed in a plane above the fulcrum 12.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and-arrangement thus described my invention, what structed from a single length of material a bent upon itself to form converging side members terminating in parallel portions, said parallel portions having their ends'bent at right angles in opposite directions to form ears, each ear having a corresponding straight edge and an arcuate shaped edge, a shank secured between the parallel portions and having one end thereof projecting slightly beyond the ears, a curved blade formed on a side portion of said end of the shank and leaving one corner of the endof the shank exposed toform a biting edge, said blade having substantially plano-convex side faces to form curved cutting edges extending in corresponding directions and one being of an increased curve overthe other.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- JONATHAN R. SPENCER. Witnesses:

FRED Bnr'rs, ToM MURRAY. 

